Interview with Alastair Fraser, author of Forestry Flavours of the Month

Publication Date: May 20, 2016
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Formats: Ebook
Pages: 228
Genre: Biography
Tour Dates: September 4 - 15

     

Forestry touches on all aspects of human welfare in one way or another, which is why foresters need to play an active role in determining our collective agenda. Alastair Fraser, a lifelong forester and the co-founder of LTS International, a forestry consulting company, explains how forestry changes with political cycles and how foresters can promote healthy forests at all times.

He explores critical issues such as:
• forests and their connection to coal;
• forest's role in combatting floods and climate change;
• illegal logging in Indonesia, Laos, and elsewhere;
• tactics to promote sustainable forestry management;
• plantations as a solution to tropical deforestation.

From pulping in Sweden and Brazil, paper mills in Greece and India, agroforestry in the Philippines, "pink" disease in India and oil bearing trees of Vietnam, no topic is off limits. Based on the author's life as a forester in dozens of countries, this account shows the breadth of forestry and makes a convincing case that forestry management needs to focus on managing change and achieving sustainability. Whether you're preparing to become a forester, already in the field, or involved with conservation, the environment or government, you'll be driven to action with Forestry Flavours of the Month.

Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author? 

I am very concerned that the public in general and especially politicians are very ignorant about forestry and do not appreciate how forests contribute to the welfare of mankind in so may ways (wildlife habitat, mitigation of flash floods, carbon sequestration, timber and other valuable products to name a few). I have had a very interesting and diverse professional career and felt that describing it in a book might help to raise awareness of what forestry is all about. 

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be? I mean what are the perks and what are the demands? 

My experience has been very rewarding as I have received many good reviews and positive comments from friends who have bought the book. 

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like? 

I chose to self publish, mainly to save time and as I had experience in preparing a manuscript ready for publishing, I did not have to spend time and money on the editing. 

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you? 

It didn’t affect my family as they are all grown up and for them it was just like my time at work. 

In writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late? 

These were not issues for me as I am my own boss and I am well organised. 

Alastair Fraser is a founder member of the archaeology group No Man s Land. He has worked as researcher and participant in a number of Great War documentaries. Steve Roberts is a retired police officer and an ex-regular soldier. He specialises in researching individuals who served during the war and is also a founder member of No Man s Land. Andrew Robertshaw frequently appears on television as a commentator on battlefield archaeology and the soldier in history, and he has coordinated the work of No Man s Land. His publications include Somme 1 July 1916: Tragedy and Triumph, Digging the Trenches (with David Kenyon) and The Platoon.